Enclosed switchgear



Jan. 16, 1951 F. W. REILLY- ENCLOSED SWITCHGEAR 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Y Filed April- 3o, 1945 A TTOlQ/VEYS "Jam 16, 1951 F. w. RE|L| Y ENCLOSED swITcHGEAR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April so, 1945 Il mi@ l IIHII :ill

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- A TTD/QNEYS Patented Jan. 16, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ENCLOSED SWITCHGEAR Frank W. Reilly, Auburndale, Mass.

Application April 30, 1945, Serial No. 591,121

The invention relates to electric switching and more particularly to enclosed switchgear of the type comprising a circuit breaker and disconnect switch housed in a cubicle. l

A general object of the invention is to provide a switchgear of the above type which is less expensive and more reliable than those heretofore proposed.

More specifically, the invention provides for a sub-assembly of a box frame on which the disconnect switch shafts carrying the movablecontacts are journaled, and on which one set of stationary contacts are mounted; the invention also provides special dowel devices for properly registering the removable circuit breaker and the subassembly box frame in the cubicle; the invention also provides for secondaryswitch connectors so mounted that, as the self-registering dowels seat the circuit breaker in the cubicle, the secondary switch connectors are also engaged; the invention also provides auxiliary switches directly mounted on the disconnect switch shafts for electrically operating safety devices which it is imperative should always accurately indicate the position of the disconnect switch; the invention also provides special mechanical interlocks between the disconnect switch and the circuit breaker whereby it is impossible to either open or close the disconnect switch with the circuit breaker closed; the invention also provides for an electrical interlock between the auxiliary switches on the disconnect switch shafts and the circuit breaker whereby initial opening movement of the disconnect switchY trips the breaker electrically; the inventionalso provides for the use of current trans- Y l the circuit breaker as it is replaced in the cubicle or taken out.

The invention also consists in certain new and original features of construction and combina' tions of parts hereinafter set forth and claimed.

Although the novel features which are believed to be characteristic of this invention will be particularly pointed out in the claims appended hereto, the invention itself, as to its objects `and advantages, and the manner in which it may be carried out, may be better understood by referring to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, in which:

Fig. 1 illustrates partly diagrammatically a vertical section taken through a cubicle according to the invention, the left side of the figure being the front of the cubicle;

Fig. 2 is a single line diagram representing the the side wall 35.

5 Claims. (Cl. F75-298) Fig. 4 is a detail illustrating the self-registering dowel;

Fig. 5 is a front elevation of the cubicle;

Fig. 6 is a section on the line 6 6 of Fig. 1;

Fig. '7 is a horizontal section taken on the line 7 7 of Fig l; andY Fig. 8 is a detail illustrating the manner in which the secondary connectors engage.

In the following description and in the claims, various details will be identified by specific names for convenience, but they are intended to be as generic in their application as the art will permit.

Like reference characters denote like parts in the several figures of the drawings.

In they drawings accompanying and forming part of this specication, certain specific discloure of the invention is made for purposes of explanation, but it will be understood that the details may be modified in various respects without departure from the broad aspect of the invention.

Referring now to the drawings, the switchgear comprises in general a cubicle Ill having a removable circuit breaker II, a disconnect switch i2 mounted upon a sub-assembly frame I3 and operated by hand wheel 22. The cubicle contains bus bars I4 which run along the length of the switchboard through several cubicles as will be understood by those skilled in the art. The branch line which may be a feeder or an incoming line leads to a pothead I5 extending down to the floor of the building. The mechanical interlock between disconnect switch and circuit breaker is denoted by I6 and the auxiliary switches on the disconnect shafts are denoted by I'I and I8. The secondary connectors are denoted by I9 andthe current transformers by 20. The self-registeringdowels are indicated by 23 and 5I, the former for the removable circuit breaker and the latter for the sub-assembly frame I3.

Suitable insulating partitions divide the cubicle into bus bar compartment 24, compartment 25 for potential transformers and other apparatus not shown, compartment 23 for one side of the dis'- connect switch, and compartment 2'I for the other side of 'the disconnect switch.

Cubicle it is of more or less conventional construction comprising a steelV framework suitably welded together with steel paneling on sides, top and bottom. The cubicle comprises a removable front wall t2 which may be in the form of a door hinged to the side 3i; a removable back wall 33 and side walls 3d and 35. Suitable inner frame members may be provided for forming a front instrument space 36, aside space or wire gutter 3l and a back space or wire gutter 38.

The circuit breaker I I is mounted upon cubicle side rails i2 secured to the partition 43 and to The circuit breaker II is of generally standard construction comprising a frame M from which is detachably suspended the oil tank 45. The frame 44 has rails et which Test upOn the cubicle rails 42. The .circuit cured to the circuit, breaker frame'llil. connector `I9 also includes ,a :bottom case 55 .'Fig. 8. the secondary connectors i@ so that .the truck may breaker also comprises a control case 93 which includes the solenoid and other apparatus for operating the `circuit breaker.

For convenience in properly replacing the circuit breaker after removal from the cubicle, the registering dowels 23 are provided, three being shown on a side. These dowels must properly register the circuit breaker' in the cubicle and also hold it rigidly under the large forces-and shocks caused by short circuits andnthefnormal opening of the circuit breaker.

The registering dowels comprise (lig- @fila-ring holes 48 in the rails 42 merging with compara- :tivelyf deep. cylindrical holes L43.- secured to special blocks or pads 4'I welded or otherwise secured to the undersidegof'theirailt42. The circuit breaker frame-M4 yhas side; rails ori rests 4B whichhave se- .'.cured ithereto lcomparatively`long.dowel pins Eil having rounded noses which cooperate with the fiiaring `surfacesM .to center and accurately seat the dowel` pins 5ilin'the dowel holes 49. Suitable :stops 5I ymaybe placedon the cubicle` rails 42 :against which the circuit breakerengages when 'it iis moved `into the cubicle to approximately ,positionrthe `.circuit breaker with respect tothe .idowels The secondary connector -I9 comprises a top Ycaser-54 (Figx) "securedito aspecialfstrap 55 se- Secondary ymounted upon a spring rubber pad 58 secured to angle '5l `attached to ladjacent `cubicle wall 35. `Itwillfbe understood that-the bottom case 5.5 will normallyfb'e-aliVe-.with 125 ,Volt D. C.'currenteven when the connectors 54, 55 are disengaged. Thereforethe bottom-case 55. contains a plurality "of sockets and the top case 54 contains a plurality ofiplugsgfor engaging the Vtsockets, which will be understoodI by. those skilled in the-art. This coninector iordinarilytakes care of've or more conn ductors which are required for electrically closing :the fcircuit breaker, electrically `opening it, and

operating-the usualrred signal lighttwhich shows the 'circuit breaker to'be closed andthe usual green signal light which shows the circuit breaker to be open.

A.Briefiy, the dowels and secondary `connectors 5.4,*55 operate :as follows: To removethecircuit brea'kerrIfI `from the cubicle` after thedisconnect is ;opened, a truck (not shown 1is wheeled into the :cubicle The .truck rst :elevates the Icircuit. breaker an inch or t-wolto the :position shown in This disengages the dowels 23 and also `'withdraw the circuit breaker i i horizontally out of the iront of the cubicle. After the circuit breakeris tested or repaired, it is replaced in the reverse manner, thecircuit breaker being wheeled back ,into the cubicle at an upper elevation until it engages the stops 5I whence the truck is lowered `to center the dowel pins`5t in the dowel holes it atwhich time the Secondary connectors 54 and 55 1are `also registeredand brought into engagetop `and bottom. This frame lrests upon horiizontal cubicle frame-members 59 (Fig-6) and is boltedtheretozby -a series of boltsl. Self-cen- ;ftering dowels 6I, similar-m23, may be provided "to pla-ce ithe` frame in` proper position in the cu- :bicle, but if: desired, only: two. self -centering dowels .SBI on a side may be provided, these dowels being vertically in line with the corresponding end circuitrbreaker dowels 23.

The'prime reason for the separate box frame 3 is not to make the disconnect switch easily removable from the cubicle, although this advan- 'tage is not precluded, but is mainly for the purpose. ofibeing able to properly align and assemble the various apparatus supported on the frame or I a work station prior to assembly in the cubicle, so tthat, 1whentheparts are reassembled in the cubicle, everything will be in register as will be more apparent from explanationgiven hereinafter.

The box frame I3 supports bearings 63 for the disconnect switch :Shafts i64 5 and :615. .Thegframe 1 has `cantilever .end and icenter brackets :1166 `:to

support' bearings 61 for :the operatingishaft fion which the hand wheel 22 is mounted. The'several bearings 53 and G'I'maybe of anyfdesired construction.

The operatingorsdrive shaftx has-worms 69 engaging worm wheels 'I0 on the two switchshafts B4 I and 55. f The ftworswitch. shafts support.l auxiliary `switches nI'I vand l'directly mounted upon these shafts, the .switch casings beingmounted upon an 'adjacent cubiclefwa1lf34. Itwillzthuszbe seen that thegauxiliary Switches AI'Ifand I8,..b eing mounted directly 'upon Vthe `disconnect :switch shafts, areabsolutelyconstrained-pto indicate the `true positions ofLsaid shafts at all times, a `safety precaution which will be explained more in detail hereinafter.

VThe disconnectswitch shafts 64 and 65 support afplurality of sector-jaW-blades T3, six being shown-for' both incoming and outgoing lines of i a three phase valternating current-system. Each jawblade-itis mountedupon its particular post insulator it which in turn is mountedupon a iitting 'I5 which is tightly clamped-:tothe-particularfdisconnect Vs-witch shaft 64 ory 65. These shafts `may be of square cross section, except atthebearings, to insure absolutely rigidcantilever relationship between the shafts'and the sector jaw blades 13. The sector jaw :blades I3'engage sets of-tongues 'I6 on thecircuitbreaker terminals 'I'I and-tongues 'I9 constituting frame'contacts, such frame contacts I9 being mounted on-the current transformersZ-Il, oninsulating bushing andfonpost insulators BI, all of .which are .mountedon the box frame I3, as shown in Fig. 7.

It will be ynoted that `the frame contacts .x19 which are supported by post Y insulators 8 I l have leads 83'whichconnect with the-bus bars I4 and that the current transformers 2i) havedeads 83 and thebushing insulator 8D-has lead 84 which connect with and form parteci the cableentering pothead I5, as will-tbe understood by those skilled in the art.

-The 'disconnectswitch shafts A64 and `65 also support-barriers 'I8 'of .insulating :material rigidly secured `to `these shafts to .rotate therewith. .These barriers I8 are sector or pie-shape and extend beyond the outer circumference of sector jaw -blades 'I3 and beyond theradial ends thereof toprevent Viia-shover. It willbe noted that'these barriers 'I8 are located betweenthe several 'phases wand .also between the `end phases .andground there being 'four l,barriers to :each shaft. Both barriers 18 and switch arms are adjustable lengthwise of the switchrshafts-during assembly.

Bothsector barriers "I8 andthe partitions IDO forming the several compartments "Z4-21 are :madeoffsuitableinsulating material Asuch as as- :bestos ebony. The partitions I 00 are secured: in Vposition lby suitable rstructural mem-bers `(not shown) secured to the cubicle frame. I'hezyer-v tical partition IllIl has suitable vertical slots IUI to clear the circuit breaker contacts 'I6 and bushings 11 for removal of the circuit breaker.

The operation of the disconnect switch will be described to make the reason for the sub-assembly box frame I3 more apparent. As will be explained hereinafter, the turning of hand wheel 22 turns drive shaft 68, which in turn rotates disconnect switchshafts 64 and 65 in opposite directions. The disconnect switch is shown closed in Fig. 1. When the hand wheel 22 is turned, the

switch shafts 64 and 65 rotate in the direction of Y the arrows A and B approximately ninety degrees so as to completely disengage the circuit breaker tongues 'I6. This both opens the circuit and mechanically frees the circuit breaker for removal from the cubicle if desired. Both sector blades and sector barriersl are then in upper position in the compartments 26 and 2. To close the disconnect switch, the operation is reversed, the hand wheel 22 being turned to lower the sector blades 13 to engage the circuit breaker tongues 16.

It will be apparent that it is very desirable to have the disconnect switch blades 'i3 and the upper and lower stationary terminals 'i9 and 76 in register to obtain proper operation of the disconnect switch. The lining up of the dowel holes of frame dowels 6I with the dowel holes of circuit n breaker dowels 23 insures correct relationship between'the sub-assembly frame I3 and the circuit breaker II. The mounting of the several post insulators 8I, bushing 80 and current transform-k ers 2U on the sub-assembly frame i3 and the mounting of the several shafts on the frame I3 and the mounting of the several sector blades 'I3 is all done with relation to the dowels 6I whose relation to the circuit breaker contacts is predetermined by the relationship of dowels 23 and 6I above mentioned.

This sub-assembly work is conveniently done at a work station/,away from the cubicle. When these parts are once all properly located and tted with respect to the box frame I3, it is compara-- tively easy to relocate them on the box frame if it be necessary to disassemble some of these parts from the box frame for the purpose of inserting the box frame into the cubicle.

It is desirable to have safety interlocks to prevent either opening or closing of the disconnect switch I2 while the circuit breaker II is closed.

The present invention provides for both mechanical and electric interlocks which may be used either separately or together in the 'same cubicle.

The mechanical interlock I6 is as follows: The hand wheel 22 is mounted to rotate freely on control. shaft 68. Wheel 22 has dog teeth 81 which cooperate with dog teeth 86 fixedly mounted on control shaft 68. These dog teeth are normally held apart by a stiff spring 88, requiring that the hand wheel be pushed inwardly in the direction of arrow C with positive pressure to engage dog teeth 86, B'I for the purpose of rotating control shaft 68.

The hand wheel 22 also carries an annular collar 89 adapted to engage a lever 92 mounted on shaft 9| extending across the front of the cubicle. The shaft 6I also carries a lever 95 adapted to engage behind roller Sl mounted on circuit breaker trip lever 96. Lever 9,5 is mounted upon a pivot shaft 94 located in the control case 93 of the circuit breaker II. The pivot shaft Qd is the shaft which is ordinarily used to mechanically trip the breaker to open it.

It will thus be seen that, .as the hand wheel 22 is pushed in to engage the dog teeth B6, 81 against (iii spring 88, the interlock lever 95 will engage trip lever 96 to mechanically trip the circuit breaker II. At the same time the trip lever 96, being mounted outside of the interlock lever 95, does not interfere with the raising of the circuit breaker or its outward movement for withdrawing the circuit breaker from the cubicle.

The cubicle frame also carries a wedge or cam member 98 against which the roller 91 engages as the breaker I I is moved inwardly to replace it in the cubicle to trip the breaker. As the breaker I I is lowered to engage the dowels, the roller rides down the cam surface 98 to a position permittingr the circuit breaker to be closed, if desired. When the circuit breaker is raised in the removing operation, thecam 93 acts to trip the breaker if not already tripped by the interlocks also provided.

The auxiliary switches I1 and I3 mounted upon the disconnect switch shafts 64 and 65 may be disposed in circuits which give visual or audible signal showing the position of the disconnect switch and also may be used for electrically tripping the circuit breaker upon initial movement of the disconnect switch shaft either to open or to close the disconnect switch.

This cubicle construction, as will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, is sometimes referred to as a single bus system. Its circuit is illustrated by the single line diagram of Fig. 2 wherein the same main reference characters are used as on the structural figures. D. S. indicates disconnect switch; C. B. indicates circuit breaker; C. T. indicates current transformer; P. H. indi'- cates pothead.

Thus it will be seen that the above switchgear is inexpensive to manufacture and reliable in operation. The cantilever disconnect switch arms operated by the two metal disconnect switch shafts provide positive and direct disconnect movement. The sector-shaped barriers provide protection against flashover between the individual phases and between the phases and ground. The insulating barriers forming the compartments provide similar protection between the incoming and outgoing sides of the disconnect switch, the bus chamber and the other chamber 25.

The special sub-assembly frame provides econonly in manufacture and facilitates removal of the disconnect switch for maintenance, repair and adjustment. The self-centering dowel construction facilitates removal and replacement of the circuit breaker and yet holds the circuit breaker rigid when once in place. 'i The secondary connectors are so mounted as to be automatically engageable when the circuit breaker is yseated and automatically disengageable when the circuit breaker is raised for removal.

The mechanical interlock between disconnect switch hand wheel and circuit breakerl `increases safety, tripping the circuit breaker whenever the disconnect switch is moved to open it or to close it. As an additional precaution, the circuit breaker is tripped by the special cam block when it is raised for removal and when it is wheeled into the cubicle for replacement.

lThe auxiliary switches on the disconnect switch shafts provide a positive indication, as by colored lights or by audible signal, of the position of the disconnect switch. The auxiliary switches also provide electric interlock to trip the circuity breaker upon initial movement of the disconnect switch shafts either for opening or closing. The auxiliary switch arrangement may be such that a* `iailurezof ieither disconnectfswitch shaft .to-` move will'be indicated.

While certain novel features ofthe invention have been disclosedherein, and arepointedout in the annexed claims, it will be understood that various. omissions, substitutions and changes may be madeby those skilled inthe art'iwithout departing vfrom the spirit of :the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In enclosed electric1switching apparatus, a cubicle, a removable-circuitbreaker inrsaid cubicle,having side rails, `the'frame of saidcircuit breaker having supports resting on said rails,fver\ tical `register devices `between -said supports and saidfrails, said-circuit breaker having atrip lever, a disconnect switch-for disconnecting saidcircuit breaker, a Vshaft for `operating said disconnect switch, a handmember loosely mountedonsaid shaft, teeth attached to said hand member, a sleeve-having teeth aixed to said operating shaft, ra Apivot devicesecuredto said cubicle, a lever-atn tached to said pivot device and engageable by said handmembena second lever secured to said pivot device and located behind said trip lever whereby said trip lever is actuated when saidhand member-is pressed axially to operate the disconnect switch.

2. In enclosed electric switching apparatus, a :'cubicle, a removable circuit breaker in said cubicle, said cubicle having iside mountings, the frame of `said circuit breaker having `supports resting on -said mountings, vertical register de- Vvices between said supports and said mountings, said circuit breaker having a trip member, a disconnect switch for disconnecting said circuit breaker, a cam device on said cubicle frame locatedbehind said trip member whereby said trip member will be actuated when said circuit breaker is raised todisengage said Vvertical register devicesprior to withdrawal of the breaker, and when saidfcircuit breaker is moved into the cubicle.

,3..In enclosed electric switching apparatus, a cubicle, a multi-phase circuit breaker unit mounted in said cubicle sc as to be horizontally removable therefrom, said circuit breaker unit having incoming and outgoing disconnect switch contacts, a sub-assembly frame mounted in said cubicle, incoming and outgoing disconnect switch 'terminals Vmounted on said sub-assembly frame, movable switch contacts having conducting relation with said frame terminals and 4adapted to engage and disengage said circuit breaker contacts, an incoming switch shaft and an outgoing switch shaft'both journaled on `said sub-assembly frame, lcantilever `insulated switch-arms rigidly attached to their respective shafts and -to their yrespective movable'contacts, vertical register deviceson said cubicle and circuit breakerunit for positioning said circuit breaker in proper position in said cubicle in a horizontal direction, vertical register devices on said cubicle and on said subassembly frame for lpositioning the latter in vproper position in a horizontal direction with rrespect to said circuitfbreaker unit, whereby to place `said movable switch contacts in alignment with said circuit breaker contacts, said subassembly frame being opento permitsaid movlable switch contacts to pass therethrough.

4. In enclosed electric switching apparatus, a cubicle, a multi-phase circuit breaker unit mounted in said cubicle so as to be horizontally 'removable therefrom, said circuit breaker unit having incoming and outgoing disconnect switch contacts, a vsub-assembly Yframe mounted in 'said .;cubicle, incomingand outgoing: disconnect. switch in said cubicle in a horizontal direction, ,vertical register devices on said cubicle and on saidsubassembly frame for positioning 'the latter `in proper position in a horizontal direction 'witherespect to said circuit breaker unit,whereby to `place said bridging switch contacts in alignment .with said circuit breaker contacts, said .sub-assembly frame being opento permitsaid movable switch contacts to pass therethrough.

5. In enclosed electric switching ,apparatush cubicle, aremovable circuit breaker .unitmounted in said cubicle so as to behorizontallyremovable therefrom, ,said cubicle having side .mountinga the frame of said circuitbreaker unithavingsupports resting on 'said mountings, vertical register devices between said supports and saidzmountings, said register devices being sopositioned that said circuit-breaker must be raised to disengage said register devices prior to horizontal withdrawal from the cubicle, said circuit breakerihaving a trip member, a `disconnect switch for disconnecting said circuit breaker, interlock means between said disconnect switch andisaid circuit breaker whereby said trip member is actuated when said disconnect switch is operated, interlock means between the cubicle and circuit breaker whereby said trip memberis actuated when said circuit breaker is raisedfto disch-gage said vertical register devices prior .to withdrawal of the breaker and whereby said trip member-fis also operated when said circuit breaker ismoved back into the cubicle.

FRANK W. REILLY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references areoi recordin .the :le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 934,097 Sessions Sept. 14,1909 1,505,633 Finney Aug..19, 1924 1,522,169 Young Jan, 1925 1,531,917 French Mar. 31,1925 1,584,623 McCoy 'May 11, 1926 1,658,913 Ansingh Feb. 14, 1928 1,929,983 MacNeil O.ct..10,.1`933 1,968,619 Reed July 31,11934 2,080,226 Paxton Nfayll, 1937 2,106,061 Paxton Jan..18,`1938 2,129,723 Wood Sept. 13,1938 2,281,739 Wright May 5,1942 2,346,460 Sillers Apr..11, 1944 2,374,702 Reilly May 1, 1945 2,374,703 Reilly `May 1, 1945 2,438,371 Morholz Mar. 23, 1948 .FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 354,039 .GreatBritain -Aug.i.6, .1931 

